We certainly have very high prices here in Hawaii, too - Gas is $4.24 a gallon (well, today, anyway), utilities are extremely high, a half gallon of orange juice is $8.00, one small artichoke is $6.00, etc....Hawaii has always been high-priced (due to the isolation of being an island chain in the middle of the Pacific, accessible only by sea or air, lol....), but yes, it's even higher now.

Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own charm, beauty, sights and attractions - and everyday, really, is a "staycation", given the activities and opportunities of  island life.

The Big Island is breathtaking raw coastline, ancient petroglyphs and statues, ancient fish ponds, Japanese Gardens, Kilauea Volcano - A mix of the modern, and ancient, history of Polynesia.